For Mostafa Mohseni and Violeta Bermudez, the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at VIU has proven to be a valuable stepping stone on their paths to a university education and new and fulfilling careers.
Delivered by highly trained instructors in small class sizes that focus on inclusion and community, the program sets students up for post-secondary success.
Here are their stories:
Mostafa Mohensi
When Mostafa first arrived in Nanaimo, he was looking for an academic-focused English learning course. He heard about VIU’s ESL program from some friends who had taken it before him and decided to check it out.
“I came to VIU and I met ESL advisor Sherri, who is an amazing person and explained the ESL program to me clearly,” he says. “I decided to enroll in ESL in March 2023.”
He took the program for one semester and then switched to the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program so he could complete prerequisite classes he needed to apply for VIU’s Electrician program, which starts in November.
Mostafa says the time he spent in the ESL program was memorable for him.
“The environment, teachers and students were amazing. Many of the students are international students, and it was nice to learn know about different culture and traditions too.”
Mostafa also credits his experience with Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society (CVIMS) for helping him find his footing in Nanaimo – and his eventual connection to VIU.
"The English class in CVIMS is good and beneficial, and there is a friendly relationship between teachers and students," he says.
He says CVIMS also helped him with things like resume building, as well as filing the bank and government paperwork he needed to settle in the community.
He plans to take VIU's ESL program one more time before starting the Electrician program to further improve his English skills.
“It really can improve your speaking, listening, writing and reading,” he adds.
Mostafa says it’s a great program for people who are looking to learn English in an academic environment that creates opportunities to connect with other students as well.
Violeta Bermudez
Violeta decided to enroll in the ESL program after initially learning about another program at VIU: Trades Pathways for Newcomers.
“I saw the opportunity to take on a new trade and develop myself better in the Canadian workplace,” she says.
She also credits CVIMS with being a key factor in getting her started on her path.
"When I arrived in Nanaimo, it was difficult not to be able to communicate without depending on a person to help me translate," she says. "The time I studied at CVIMS helped me to improve my listening and refresh the knowledge I learned in school about English. They give very practical classes that, in addition to teaching me English and basic knowledge about Canada and its culture, helped me with topics necessary for life here, such as how to go to the bank and make transactions, go to a medical appointment, or go to the supermarket and be able to ask or make myself understood with what I need. It was a good start on this path and I will always be grateful to them."
Violeta decided to take the Pathways prep courses towards the Office Administration program, and it was through this process that she also heard about the ESL program. She decided to enroll to help further prepare for success in the program.
“I hope to continue the learning process in the ESL program to develop myself better and to be able to facilitate my learning in the office administration trade to be able to have better employment opportunities in Canada,” she says.
Violeta is grateful for the opportunities the ESL program has given her.
“Despite starting in a new country, and having an uncertain future, I have had angels in my path and they have come to me at the best time to show me and reinforce for me the way forward,” says Violeta. “I am happy to have received the support of the university and financial support to help me to start my new working life in Canada.”
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